In women with a family history of breast cancer, beginning breast cancer surveillance 5 years before the youngest age of onset in the family increases the chances of detecting breast cancer in an early, favorable stage, and reduces mortality by 30%, according to researchers in the Netherlands. "This study showed that in patients under surveillance, significantly more breast cancers are detected in a favorable Tis-1 N0 stage than in symptomatic patients with a family history," Dr. M. M. A. Tilanus-Linthorst, of University Hospital Rotterdam, and colleagues say in the March issue of the European Journal of Cancer. The investigators conducted a targeted breast cancer surveillance program from January 1994 through April 1998. They enrolled 294 women with a "moderate" (15% to 25%) risk of breast cancer and 384 women with a "high" (greater than 25%) risk of breast cancer. All women had a family history of the disease. Surveillance began 5 years before the youngest age of onset in the family and consisted of yearly mammography in both groups of women, plus a physical exam every year in the moderate-risk group and a physical exam every 6 months in the high-risk group. Starting in September 1995, high-risk women also underwent breast magnetic resonance imaging when mammography showed density greater than 50%. Compared with a group of symptomatic women with a family history of breast cancer who were referred during the same period, women enrolled in the surveillance program were significantly more likely to have breast cancers diagnosed in stage T1N0. Specifically, 81% of breast cancers in the surveillance group were diagnosed in this stage, compared with only 46% of breast cancers in the symptomatic group. Patients in the surveillance group were also significantly less likely than symptomatic women to be node positive, at 19% and 42%, respectively. Based on data from a national surveillance program, the authors calculate that the earlier detection of breast cancers in this group of women would result in a 30% reduction in mortality. "Both physical examination and mammography made an important contribution" to the detection of breast cancers in the study population, Dr. Tilanus-Linthorst and colleagues say. Of the breast cancers detected, 23% were detectable by physical examination but occult by mammography and 38% were detectable only by mammography. Breast MRI detected an additional three breast cancers that were occult by both methods, according to the report. Eur J Cancer 2000;36:514-519. Thanks to Reuters Health Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.